Islanders pay tribute to Lieutenant Governor Peter Walker

AM Sir Peter Walker served in the Royal Air Force for nearly 40 years

Hundreds of islanders have turned out to pay tribute to Guernsey's Lieutenant Governor Air Marshal Peter Walker.

AM Walker passed away on 6 September in the fourth year of his five-year term as Lieutenant Governor of the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

The 65-year-old, who served in the RAF for 32 years, died after suffering a heart attack.

A service of Thanksgiving and Farewell was held at the Town Church before a procession made its way to the airport.

A guard of honour met the hearse carrying the coffin of Lieutenant Governor Air Marshal Peter Walker on its journey from the Town Church to the airport

Flags throughout the island were flown at half mast with the memorial mast flying the Royal Air Force, Guernsey and Union flags

The Rt Rev Trevor Willmott, Bishop of Dover, led the service and said AM Walker had given "extraordinary service" and "opened his heart" to the community he served.

"We in these offices come and we go - the communities we come to serve touch our lives deeply," Bishop Willmott told the congregation.

"He [AM Walker] served us, opened his heart, made us welcome and reminded us of simple and important parts of human life that matter..dignity, humanity and service."

At the hearse made its way from the Town Church a gun salute of 15 rounds was fired from Castle Cornet

With limited public seating in the church the service was relayed live to a screen set up in Market Square

The coffin was transported to the UK aboard a BAE 146 from 32 (The Royal) Squadron from RAF Northolt

Sir Richard Collas, Guernsey's Bailiff and acting Lieutenant Governor, also spoke of the "immense service to the islands of the Bailiwick" given by AM Walker.

He described him and his wife Lynda as "two of our own".

"Sadly islanders, that is to say the Bailiwick family, have been robbed of the chance to thank you personally," he said.

"We are enormously grateful, to Mrs Walker and to "HE" [His Excellency] for all you have done for our islands.

"For your unselfish, dedicated service to us and for your love, support and friendship."

Air Marshal Peter Walker had represented the Queen in the islands since April 2011

Among his duties was attending meeting of the islands' governments - Guernsey States, Alderney States and Sark Chief Pleas

As Lieutenant Governor AM Walker hosted members of the Royal Family and foreign ambassadors on visits to the island

AM Walker's service in the RAF included several tours as a frontline fighter pilot in both the Phantom and Tornados.

His final posting before he left the service in 2007 was as Director of the Joint Warfare Centre in Norway, responsible for training NATO headquarters staff for deployment to theatres such as Afghanistan and the Balkans.

After retiring he was involved in voluntary work for RAF and civilian charities.

Since taking up his post in Guernsey, as the Queen's representative in the islands, he and his wife Lynda had been great supporters of local causes and he became patron of a number of island charities.

He is survived by his wife and three children.

The Guernsey Air Display, held on Thursday, was dedicated to his memory and included a special flypast by the Red Arrows.

A funeral service will be held in the church of St Clement Danes, Strand, London, on 22 September.